NU ON VERGE OF NAMING CHRIS KABOUREK INTERIM PRESIDENT AFTER CARTER LEAVES

LINCOLN- The University of Nebraska Board of Regents has seemingly landed on a temporary replacement for outgoing NU President Ted Carter. Chris Kabourek, NU's vice president for business and finance, is expected to be named interim president after the Board's December 1st meeting, at least according to several NU officials.

Carter leaves the NU System in January to lead Ohio State University, and announced his departure in August. Carter said that NU will "be in good hands with Chris Kabourek at the helm," as he bring "steady leadership" and offered him "wise and candid counsel" during his tenure as president of the NU System.

However, NU officials confirmed on Thursday that Kabourek will not be a candidate for the permanent job. Kabourek described being considered for the interim role as "humbling," and said he plans to continue making progress on plans developed by Carter and the Board of Regents. "I will do whatever I can to support the University of Nebraska," he said.

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CONSTRUCTION OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF AT $105M OMAHA BUILDING SITE, KEY TO FLURRY OF UNMC DEVELOPMENT

OMAHA- On Tuesday, construction officially kicked off on a "cornerstone" of a multibillion-dollar flurry of building initiatives in midtown Omaha, which are poised to further elevate the University of Nebraska Medical Center's profile. Gathered southwest of Saddle Creek Road and Farnam Street, a coalition of medical, government, and business leaders celebrated what is to become the six-story "CORE" building.

The developing 180,870-square-foot Campus Operations & Research Excellence facility, which will house scientific research and administrative functions for UNMC, is set to open in early 2026. The CORE building, when combined with several other ongoing or proposed developments, could expand the UNMC footprint by nearly 1.5 million square feet, according to Brian Spencer, head of campus development and planning.

Spencer added that such growth is unprecedented for UNMC, whose building space currently spans roughly 10 million square feet. According to UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold, the expansion is a necessity. "We are just busting at the seams in the need for more space," he said, "in spite of the fact we have had quite a few groundbreakings and ribbon-cutting over the last years." Gold also indicated that the expansion will help UNMC make a mark in the national health and science industry.

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NEBRASKA SENATORS REVISIT WHAT WENT RIGHT, AND WRONG, WITH STATE RESPONSE TO COVID-19

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, the Nebraska Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee called on nine health care associated officials to look back at and explain what went right and wrong with the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which killed, according to a New York Times report, 5,068 Nebraskans. "The pandemic was new to all of us," said Dr. John Trapp, president of the Nebraska Medical Association, "Every day was a challenge."

The interim study was sought by Sen. Ben Hansen, chairman of the HHS Committee, who previously introduced bills that would have blocked the state and businesses from mandating COVID-19 vaccines. He said he called the hearing just in case "COVID 2.0" comes about, adding that he wants the state to be better prepared to respond to such viruses. "I think we did a lot right," he said, "but I hope there's room for improvement."

Generally, those testifying said they believe Nebraska fared well in tackling the spread of COVID-19, and did a good job in communicating to state citizens why it was important to avoid crowds, wear masks, and receive the vaccine. However, Angela Ling, who became the "incident commander" for DHHS's response to COVID, said future leaders will need to "think outside the box" when it comes to future pandemics.

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38 STATE SENATORS CONDEMN HAMAS FOR 'ATROCITIES' AND FOR SEEKING TO 'MAXIMIZE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES'

LINCOLN- On Tuesday, Sen. Brad von Gillern released a statement signed by thirty-eight of Nebraska's 49 state senators condemning Hamas for its "brutal, highly organized, and unprecedented attack upon Israel." Von Gillern said that he and the signers felt it was "important to speak out against the atrocities happening against the Israeli people and let Nebraskans know that their elected officials stand with those defending innocent life."

Hamas, the resolution asserts, was founded with the goal of destroying the state of Israel, and the October 7th attacks were done in such a manner that would "maximize civilian casualties." The resolution also states that senators "express their support for Israel's right to pursue without interference or condemnation the elimination of Hamas until Hamas is permanently neutralized..."

Finally, the statement also urged the United States to provide "all assistance as may be required" for Israel to defend against Hamas and other terrorist groups. The resolution garnered generally bipartisan support, with both Democratic and Republican signees.

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NEBRASKA'S MEDICAID AND LONG-TERM CARE DIRECTOR RESIGNS

LINCOLN- On Wednesday, Gov. Pillen announced the resignation of Kevin Bagley, the director of Medicaid and Long-Term Care for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. While the press release announcing the resignation did not specify a reason for Bagley's departure, it did indicate that he would be leaving the post effective December 1st.

Gov. Pillen also announced that Matt Ahern, the current deputy director of policy and plan management for DHHS, will assume the role of director in an interim capacity after Bagley's resignation takes effect. Bagley was appointed to the position in 2020 by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts, and was one of a handful of agency heads that Pillen retained after taking office earlier this year.

In the role, Bagley was charged with overseeing and supervising Nebraska's Medicaid program, home and community-based services, and the State Unit on Aging. "I have been impressed by Director Bagley's dedication to serving Nebraska's most vulnerable," said DHHS CEO Steve Corsi, "I appreciate Kevin's three years of service at DHHS and wish him the best on his next endeavor."

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OMAHA, LINCOLN RESPONSES TO NEW CONCEALED HANDGUN LAW COULD BE HEADED TO COURT

OMAHA- Since the Nebraska Legislature this year limited cities’ authority to regulate concealed handguns more strictly than the state does, Omaha and Lincoln have restricted people from carrying concealed handguns on some city land. Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird issued executive orders this summer asserting that their cities would not allow guns on most city-owned properties, citing an exception in LB77.

“Recognizing the epidemic of gun violence claiming innocent lives across our nation and that LB77 eliminates common sense safety training for gun owners, I took action to safeguard City … employees and community members,” Gaylor Baird said. Stothert, announcing her order in August, said she wanted people visiting city buildings, parks and facilities to “feel safe.”

LB77 made three big changes to state law: It lets people carry concealed handguns without a permit. It lets them carry the weapons without undergoing state-mandated training. And it aims to eliminate cities’ authority to enact gun ordinances. Sen. Tom Brewer, the bill's introducer, has asked Attorney General Mike Hilgers for an opinion on what he called the cities’ “illegal” orders.

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BOLD NEBRASKA'S JANE KLEEB EXCHANGES PIPELINE FIGHT FOR CLEAN ENERGY WITH $3 MILLION AWARD

LINCOLN- Jane Kleeb, the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, has been teasing for weeks on social media about a “big surprise,” and several political insiders have speculated she was eyeing a run for the U.S. Senate. Instead, she confirmed this week that she is taking on a new project in her work with Bold Nebraska, thanks to a big infusion of cash.

Bold Nebraska is the group Kleeb founded in 2010 to organize farmers, ranchers and Native Americans to push back against the Keystone XL Pipeline. This week, that work led to a $3 million international award. Kleeb was announced as the third American to receive the Climate Breakthrough Award. She was joined this year by Indonesia’s Gita Syahrani in receiving the award.

She will receive funding for multiple years to invest in organizing similar rural alliances to embrace alternative or green energy sources such as solar and wind power. The recognition will help the group raise more money from larger foundations focused on climate change. Kleeb wants to ensure that rural Americans understand they and their land are on the front lines of American energy for the next century.

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ABORTION RIGTHS ADVOCATES FILE INITIATIVE PETITION LANGUAGE, BUT THEY'RE MUM ON ITS EXACT CONTENT

LINCOLN- Planned Parenthood officials filed their proposed language for an initiative to restore abortion rights that they hope will be placed on the 2024 ballot in Nebraska. But, for now, exactly what proposal voters may see will remain secret, in part due to a state law that allows such language to remain confidential for up to 15 days while it undergoes a review by the State Legislature’s bill drafters office.

Organizers of the petition drive say it will “restore our rights” for access to abortion, but one veteran senator — an abortion rights supporter — warned that pushing the envelope too far might “do more harm than good.” Deciding which abortion rights proposal to put on a petition is a high-stakes, multimillion-dollar question.

Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, an abortion rights supporter, said that she hasn’t seen the proposed ballot language but that unless polling shows it has at least 60% support, she labeled it an “unserious effort.” “Amending the (Nebraska) Constitution and raising such an important yet complex issue is serious business, and without a thoughtful strategy in place upon launch, it could be downright dangerous and could cause more harm than good,” Conrad said, “by sparking more radical bans in the Legislature.”

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NEBRASKA NURSING HOMES BASH NEW 'FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED' REGULATIONS

LINCOLN- A new rule announced by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which was intended to improve patient care in long-term nursing facilities, is being criticized by nursing home staff and administrators for its strict requirement that each nursing facility must have a registered nurse working 24 hours a day.

"It's absolutely fundamentally flawed," said Tim Groshan, who owns three Nebraska nursing facilities, "because that's not how long-term care facilities operate." Groshan added that the new rule would give Nebraska nursing homes far less flexibility in both accepting patients and adjusting staffing levels to fit patient needs.

Before the new rule, nursing homes were only required to have a registered nurse, who oversees the care offered in nursing facilities, on-site for eight hours a day. In Nebraska, Groshan said that many facilities are having trouble hiring and retaining RNs, adding that many facilities won't survive the change. "But we've been fighting a lack of RNs for a number of years," he said, "And now there's a policy that seems to think that's gone and that they're just aplenty and you can find them. That's not reality"

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NU INSTITUTE GETS $19 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR GLOBAL WATER, AG PROJECT

LINCOLN- On Friday, the University of Nebraska's Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute announced that it had received a $19 million federal grant that will be utilized to help coordinate a global network of sustainable irrigation and agricultural mechanization for small farmers in developing countries.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, which awarded the grant, also chose the Daugherty Institute to lead the global, multi-partner initiative. While the project is set to focus on the technical aspects of irrigation and agricultural mechanization, it will also attempt to tackle some of the more specific issues that must be addressed if developing nations are to achieve long-term success in managing food security.

The Water, Climate, and Health program of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, as well as the Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will be leading partners in the endeavor. The $19 million awarded to the Daugherty Insititute is meant to be used over a five-year period, with the potential to expand the program with more initiatives up to $40 million.

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RESIDENTS OF MIDWEST, MOUNTAIN WEST SEE BIGGEST PAY BUMPS

LINCOLN- Residents of some Midwestern and Mountain states gained the most income per capita during the past four years, a Stateline analysis shows, as competition for workers drove up wages in relatively affordable places to live. Stateline’s analysis offers a more complete understanding of how some states’ residents benefitted economically as policy decisions and Americans’ choices shuffled state-by-state outcomes.

Inflation took the biggest bite out of paychecks in the West and South, with consumer prices rising about 20% in those regions between mid-2019 and mid-2023, according to U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis figures. Inflation was a little lower in the Midwest, about 19%, and about 16% in the Northeast.

Inflation-adjusted per capita incomes in Utah have grown by about 8% since 2019. Incomes in Colorado, Maine, Montana and Nebraska also grew by roughly that much. Incomes in Arizona, Idaho and Missouri increased by about 7%. Many of these states experienced large income increases due to scenic or affordable areas that have attracted remote workers looking for a lower cost of living and proximity to recreation.

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ADVOCATES SEEK BETTER USE OF $126 MILLION IN EXCESS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

LINCOLN- Last week, Sen. Clements and other members of the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee were urged to make changes in state policies concerning the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, federal funds that finance ADC, among other things. “This is an issue that has languished in Nebraska too long,” Conrad told committee members.

The state gets about $56.6 million a year from the feds for TANF, but until last year, has not come close to spending its annual allocation, which has resulted in nearly $126 million sitting unallocated in a reserve or “rainy day” fund. Sen. Danielle Conrad, who called for an interim study on the excess TANF funds, said that Nebraska is now using only about 30% of its available funds as direct aid for needy families and that those funds would be better used as they were intended, to help families get out of poverty.

She urged the committee to support efforts to get more of the TANF money directly in the hands of needy families, as has been done in other states. Conrad’s LB 310 would increase the maximum ADC payment from 55% of a family’s standard of need to 85%. State Auditor Mike Foley testified Friday that Nebraska is an outlier in the large size of its TANF rainy day fund.

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MISSOURI OFFICIAL HIRED AS NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

LINCOLN- The medical director for a private, for-profit provider of health care for Missouri prison inmates began work as the new medical director for the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Dr. Jerry Lee Lovelace Jr. succeeds Dr. Harbans Deol, who retired in February after serving seven years in the key position. Lovelace will paid a salary of $314,000.

State Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys, in a press release, called Lovelace “an innovative leader who has a proven record of working collaboratively to find solutions.” “His experience and commitment to providing excellent care to diverse populations will be a tremendous asset,” Jeffreys said. Most recently, Lovelace was statewide medical director for Centurion Health.

He has a background in pathology and internal medicine and had served 24 years as a primary care physician. Lovelace will oversee all health services for Nebraska state prisons, which includes medical, dental, psychiatry and behavioral health. He will be serving about 5,750 inmates in nine prisons.

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$2 MILLION AIMS TO BOOST READING SKILLS OF NEBRASKA PRESCHOOLERS, ELIMINATE 'BOOK DESERTS'

OMAHA- Seeking to eliminate “book deserts” in Nebraska, the State Department of Education has directed $2 million toward getting more than a half-million books into households with the youngest Nebraskans. The Nebraska Growing Readers effort kicked off with books distributed to Educare of Omaha at Indian Hill, one of 18 urban and rural childcare providers and other sites that will help get the books to families.

Education Commissioner Brian Maher, Mary Jo Pankoke, president and chief executive of Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, and Suzanne Pillen monitored the distribution process by stopping by classrooms. A state education spokesman said the $2 million comes from the department’s pandemic-related federal allotment of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.

Available books are generally filled with pictures, ranging in topics from family to animals, organizers said, and are accessible in Spanish and other languages if desired. The initial phase is to reach 16,000 children, 12,000 households and 1,000 early childhood providers, and organizers said they hope to get a series of books into each household.

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PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY URGED WITH $100 MILLION OPIOID SETTLEMENT IN NEBRASKA

OMAHA- Nebraska is set to get $100 million over the next two decades. It's part of the massive opioid settlement money paid out by drug companies and drug stores for flooding the market with addictive pain killers and overprescribing these drugs, responsible for about 80,000 deaths nationwide, per year. Nebraska’s share of the settlement is a tiny part of $54 billion paid out worldwide.

But right now, it’s not clear if Nebraska will publicly report how all the money is spent. “Even though the opioid settlement seems like a large amount of money, it is right sized for our state,” said Omaha Doctor Ann Anderson Berry, a Nebraska Medicine neonatologist, UNMC researcher and member of Nebraska’s committee which will determine how part of the money is spent.

So far, neighboring states like Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota promise full transparency. They already have detailed active public websites detailing 100% disclosure of how their money is being spent. Nebraska has not identified if they will do the same with it's funds. DHHS must issue an annual report on the uses, spending, and outcomes to the Legislature, Governor, and the Attorney General.

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TOM BRIESE, NEBRSKA'S INCOMING STATE TREASURER, EYES SPENDING CUTS

LINCOLN- Nebraska’s new state treasurer took office this week, and State Sen. Tom Briese of Albion says he has a plan for his first steps on the job: Listen and learn. Then cut. Briese, a corn and soybean farmer with a law degree, has spent several weeks since Gov. Jim Pillen tapped him to replace Treasurer John Murante meeting with his new staff. Briese said he and Pillen are on the same page.

“I have a solemn obligation to be a good steward of taxpayer dollars,” Briese said of his shift to the executive branch. “That means running operations as efficiently as possible.” Briese’s first task, he said, will be getting a handle on what taxpayers receive for the office’s $3.2 million general fund budget, which has stayed fairly flat in recent years.

Briese said he had not yet identified specific cuts. He said his goal is to reduce costs without jeopardizing the service level provided. “Our mindset should always be to implement process improvements and save taxpayer dollars,” Briese said. “The status quo should really never be acceptable.” Briese and his wife have relocated to Lincoln for this position.

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NEBRASKA MULLS PARTICIPATION IN NEW CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT COULD BRING $18M IN BENEFITS

LINCOLN- A child nutrition program poised to launch nationwide on a permanent basis could deliver an estimated $18 million in grocery-buying benefits to Nebraska families next summer. While that’s an encouraging prospect to child welfare advocates and struggling families, state government officials first must decide whether to opt into the new Summer EBT program for children.

That has yet to happen — and a looming federal government deadline has some advocates antsy. “If they do nothing there is going to be more child hunger, more stress on the emergency food distribution network in our state, which already is stressed,” said Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access manager at Nebraska Appleseed, a nonprofit that combats poverty and discrimination.

The program would offer an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to children whose household income makes them eligible for free and reduced school lunches during the school year. Each youth would receive a card loaded with $120 to help buy food during months that school is out. Intent to participate must be notified by January 1st, 2024.

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NEBRASKA JOINS LAWSUIT AGAINST META, CLAIMS ITS SOCIAL PLATFORMS ARE ADDICTIVE AND HARM CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH

LINCOLN- Dozens of states from across the country are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for allegedly harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately adding features to Instagram and Facebook that lead to addiction. The lawsuit, which included 33 states, was filed in federal court in California, with 9 other attorneys general from several other states filing their own as well.

The broad-ranging lawsuit is the result of a bipartisan investigation conducted by attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. In a statement responding to the allegations, Meta said it shares "the attorneys general's commitment to providing teens with safe, positive experiences online, and have already introduced over 30 tools to support teens and their families."

The suit seeks financial damages and restitution, as well as an end to Meta's practices that the attorneys general argue are in violation of the law. Research released in 2021 by Meta stated that the company had known about the harm its social platforms can cause to teenagers, especially young girls, when it comes to mental health and body image issues. Another study found that 13.5% of teen girls say Instagram exacerbates suicidal ideation.

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ELECTION 2024: NEBRASKA, IOWA ELECTION OFFICIALS REINFORCE BALLOT INTEGRITY DURING CYBERSECURITY MONTH

LINCOLN- With less than three months until the Iowa Caucuses, and Nebraska's primary election coming up in May, both states' election officials took the time to highlight the integrity of their ballot systems. "If they don't feel like we're getting the job done, that can be just as devastating," said Paul Pate, Iowa's Secretary of State, "Then they don't have the confidence in the system."

The integrity of many states' ballot systems came under fire following the 2020 election, which later prompted the January 6th Insurrection, despite the fact that many different courts debunked claims of widespread election fraud. Last year, Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen's office created a "FAKE vs. FACT" section on the Secretary's website, sharing data on why 12 different claims of election fraud in Nebraska were wrong.

"Our election commissions across the state hand-counted 48,000 ballots and found discrepancies with 11 ballots," said Evnen, "and five of those were the result of voters who didn't darken the oval. Nebraska has very secure elections, and our elections are a model for the nation." The 2024 election will be the first in Nebraska to require voters to present a valid ID, a newly-implemented law its supporters say will help to deter election fraud.

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NEBRASKA'S OPENSKY POLICY INSTITUTE HONES IN IN FISCAL POLICY, IMMIGRATION ISSUES

LINCOLN- With the Nebraska Legislature's next session a little over two months away, the OpenSky Policy Institute held panel discussions with lawmakers and stakeholders that could shape future legislative proposals. The impact of court fines and fees on defendants, problems with property taxes, and the role of immigrants in the state's workforce were among the top issues discussed.

After lawmakers recently approved $350 million to build a new state prison, OpenSky focused discussions at a Tuesday panel around ways to reduce fines and fees for those going through Nebraska's criminal justice system. Sen. George Dungan, who moderated the panel and serves as a public defender, said such costs can act as a barrier to a fair trial if a defendant can't afford them.

The Legislature also passed a pair of tax bills last session that will cut or offset more than $6 billion worth of property and income taxes over the next six years. OpenSky discussed ways to clean up this new tax system, with John Anderson, a Univerity of Nebraska-Lincoln professor, saying that the current process is too impractical for certain property owners. Anderson also pointed out that the proposed changes don't make a change. Finally, discussing immigration, OpenSky recommended that the state look into tapping into its immigration population as a way to reduce its sizable workforce shortage. 

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